Eye-protector.



G. H. DAY.

EYEPROTECTOR. I APPLICATION man DEC.28, m4.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Y M m. NH 5 5 6 P O E G WITNESSES:

A TTORIVEKS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. DAY, OF SOUTI-IBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICANOPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY ASSO-CIATION.

' EYE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and tate ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eye-Protectors, of which the following is av specification.

This invention relates to improvements in eye protectors, and hasparticular reference to what may properly be termed a one-piececonstruction.

The leading object of this invention is the provision of an extremelydurable and sub stantial eye protector which will possess a maximum ofrigidity and strength compatible with the desired lightness of weightand comfort.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a goggle of thisnature in which soldering and other expensive operations are dispensedwith to a maximum degree, whereby the expense of production of thegoggle may be reduced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved mannerof securing the screen portion of the eye and face shield in position toinsure secure retention thereof, and prevent strain.

Among other objects of the invention are the provision of improved meansfor retaining the lenses in position, of improved and strengthened ointsfor uniting the parts, and for finishing the edges, and in general asimplification and improvement of structure of devices of this nature,and it will be understood that any modification of the specific detailsof construction shown and described within the scope of the appendedclaims may be made without in anywise departing from or exceeding thespirit of this invention.

Figure I represents a perspective view illustrating one form of theconstruction. Fig. II represents a fragmentary view, parts being brokenaway and shown in section to illustratethe details ofconstructiouof theframe. Fig. III is a view similar to Fig.

. II, illustrating an alternative method of construction. Fig. IVrepresents a view in which the entire construction is made in one piece.Fig. V is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the lensframe of the structure illustrated in Fig. IV. Fig.

VI is a detail perspective view illustrating the manner in which themesh is secured between the inturned flange of the frame. Fig. VIIrepresents a sectional view on the line VIIVII of Fig. I. Fig. VIIIrepresents a perspective view of a frame in which the joint is disposedat the outer side. Fig. IX represents a detail view of one of the lensframes in partially assembled condition. Fig. X represents a sectionalview of the temple illustrated in Fig. VIII, and Fig. XI represents aperspective view illus trating a construction similar to Fig. VII, butparticularly adapted for a separate or folding shield member. 7

In the drawings, inwhich similar characters of reference are employed todenote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1designates the main ring or frame for the lens 2, the two frames beingconnected by any suitable bridge connection 3, different-styles ofbridge connection being illustrated in. different views.

In that form .of' this invention particularly illustrated in Figs. I andII, each of the frames'l comprises the. main ring portion having aninturned flange d atone side thereof, and having a plurality of lips orears punched inwardly therefrom adjacent the flange 4, said lipsor ears5 being so spaced from the flange 4 as to provide a groove or channelbetweenthe lip and flange of thickness to receive a lens, as will bebest understood by reference to Fig. II. On the opposite side theportion 1 has projecting therefrom at the outer side the substantiallytriangular shield portion 6, said shield being cut to provide merely aframe in which is mounted the screen 7. screening 7 in position theportion 6 has preferably the inturned flange 8 pinched down upon theedge of' the screen and planished to provide a smooth surface, thepinching and 'planishing action causing the wires of the screen or mesh7 to bite into and become embedded in the inner surfaces of the frame 6and flange 8 and securely retained, as is clearly indicated in Fig. VI.

To retain the forward or, as in Fig. II, the

lower portion of the screen, the body 1 has the portion thereof which iscut away to provide the screen receiving aperture bent inwardly andthere formed into a trough or Ushaped 'portion 9, into which the said.por

tion of the screen or mesh fits and in which it is secured in the samemanner as between the frame 6 and flange 8. These parts are preferablyso secured before the forming or closure of the ring 1 when the partsare in substantially straight condition and the operation of closing theflange 8 and the U- shaped trough 9 being preferably simultaneouslyperformed.

It will be at once apparent that the provision of these doubled overportions of the material serves not only to securely and satisfactorilyretain the screen or mesh 7 in position without the necessity for theemployment of solder or the like, but at the same time present a verystiff non-yielding construction. To further increase the stiffness ofthe frame there is preferably inserted, as at the widest point of theshield 6, a brace 10 having its ends fitting into the trough 9 andbetween the frame 6 and flange 8 with the screen, if desired, the partsbeing simply secured together by the pinching or closing of the troughto retain the mesh, as previously referred to. If preferred, however,rivets may also be passed through the parts to secure the same inposition, in this connection a very desirable construction being to forma rivet 11 on the end piece 12, the rivet thus serving both to securethe brace 10 in position and also to secure the end piece 12 at the rearportion of the frame 6, a temple or other head engaging member 13 forretaining the pro tector in position being suitably attached to said endpiece.

It is to be noted that to facilitate the insertion or removal of thelens 2 from the frame, the frame is preferably provided with the smallslot 14, ears 15 being suitably secured to the portion 1 or cuttherefrom and turned outwardly, a screw or similar connection 16 passingthrough the ears and normally serving to hold the same together with theslot in closed position and securely retain the lens, it beingunderstood that loosening of the screw 16 permits of suflicientspringing open of the ring or frame 1 to permit of removal of the lens.

IVhile in Fig. II he use of the tongue 5 for retaining the lens has beenshown in connection with the use of the trough 9, for aiding inretaining the screen, if desired both of these parts may be replaced bythe ring indicated in Fig. III, said ring 17 be ing suitably securedeither by rivets or screws 18, in such position as to securely retainthe lens in position and at the same time to clampingly engage andsecure the adjacent portion of the mesh 7. In addition this ring formsan efficient and desirable stiffening member to increase the rigidityand strength of the portion 1.

In that form of construction illustrated in Figs. IV and V, the entiremounting with the exception of the temples or retaining members 13, isformed from a single stamping of sheet metal. In this form the bridge isof one piece with the lens frame 1, the frames themselves beingconstructed substantially as indicated in Fig. II for exampie, with theexception that in place of having the separate brace 10 there described,there are provided. a plurality of braces 19 forming integralconnections extending between the lens frame 1 and intermediate portionof the shield frame 6 to impart desired rigidity and resistance todistortion of the shield frame 6. In this form of construc tion the ears15 are integrally formed from the material adjacent the slot 14: andbent into correct position, these ears serving both to hold the slot 14in closed position to securely retain the lens, and also serving asbearings between which the temple 13 is pivotally mounted on the screw16. A possible variation in the frame construction of Fig. IV has beenindicated in Fig. V, in which in place of making use of the tongues 5for retaining the lens in position the forward edge of the frame isrolled or bent into the V-shaped groove 20, the opposite edge as in theother forms hitherto described being curved into the roll 21, which willhave a satisfactorily soft or comfortable engagement with the face andwill prevent any sharp corners tending to irritate the same.

In Figs. VIII and IX are illustrated another embodiment of thisone-piece construction, in which the joint of the frame 1 is locatedcentrally of the shield member, each of the ends of the frame memberbeing provided with one of the brace portions 10, which portions may bereversely bent as indicated at the right to securely clamp the adjacentsection of the mesh 7, or the mesh 7 may be continuous across the jointand simply clamped by the portions 8 and 9, as preferred. A rivet orrivets are preferably employed to retain the braces 10 in overlappedrelation, as illustrated, an ordinary end piece being secured to thefront or outer edge of the frame 1 and serving to unite the two endsthereof at this point, loosening of the securing screw of the end piecefacilitating insertion and removal of the lens 2.

In Fig. X an inexpensive construction of temple for use on this gogglehas been illustrated, this temple comprising the core or main section 22having suitably mounted thereon the larger spirally wound portion 23prevented from disengagement with the body of the temple by the ball 24formed at the end of the ear hook.

In. Fig. XI, I have illustrated a construction quite similar to that ofFig. VII, that is, both embody the portions 6 and 8 turned to form atrough for the outer edge of the frame of the shield in connection witha second trough member 9, which, however, in

place of being integral with the lens frame 1 is separate therefrom andadapted to be pivoted thereto at the point 25. In this construction aseparate brace 10 is employed adapted to be secured in position in thesame manner as indicated in Fig. VII. It will thus be seen that thisconstruction is in all essential respects the same as that shown inFigs. II and VII, except that it is employed for a separate shield inplace of for a shield which is unitary with the lens frame.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction of this improved goggle should be readilyapparent, and it will be seen that there has been provided a gogglecomposed of extremely few parts, all of which parts are so constructedas to possess maximum rigidity and to offer the greatest possibleresistance to any strain tending to bend or distort the parts eitherwhen in position on the face or when laid on the bench or in likeposition. It will further be noted that by this improved construction itis p0ssible to satisfactorily secure the screen or mesh in positionwithout the use of solder and at the same time the securing means forsaid mesh serves as reinforcement or braces for the normally weak screenshield member.

Particular attention is also invited to the presence of the transversebraces 10 or 19 imparting additional rigidity to the normally weakscreen member and preventing accidental collapsing thereof.

I claim:

1. A frame member for an eye protector, comprising a ring having aninturned flange at one side thereof, for engagement with a lens andhaving an integral shield member projecting from the opposite sidethereof,

said shield member being provided with an inturned flange, and a meshfor the shield member fitting beneath the flange and secured in positionby pinching of the flange thereagainst, substantially as described.

2. A frame for an eye protector, comprising a ring having a portion atone edge thereof for engaging a lens, means projecting inwardly of theframe for engaging the opposite face of the lens to secure the same inposition, said frame having a portion of the opposite edge thereofrolled to provide a face engaging bead and having the remainder of saidedge curving rearwardly to provide a shield portion, the central part ofthe shield. portion being cutaway, and the portion of the frame at eachside of the cut away part being doubled to provide a trough, and ascreen or mesh having its edges fitting within the said trough, thematerial of the trough being pinched down upon the edges of the mesh tosecurely retain the same in position.

3. In an eye protector, a shield comprising an open frame in which amesh is received, and overlapping brace members connecting portions ofsaid frame to prevent crushing thereof.

4. In a device of the character described, a shield including aplurality of frames, and members connecting portions of each frame, saidmembers being adapted to engage with each other when the frames areassembled to provide a rigid shield.

5. In an eye protector, the combination with split lens frames, ofshields carried by said frames comprising frame portions in which ashield element is mounted, and braces connecting portions of said shieldframes to resist crushing of the shield when the lens frames are mountedupon the lenses.

6. In an eye protector, the combination with a slit lens frame forclamping engagement with a lens, of shield elements carried by saidframe comprising substantially triangularly-shaped frame portions havinga mesh secured therein, said shield elements being located adjacent theterminal ends of said lens frame, a flange connection between the shieldelements whereby the elements are united to form a complete shield andwhereby said shield is reinforced to prevent crushing thereof, and meansto positively secure said shield elements against accidentaldisengagement one from the other.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. DAY. lVit'nesses:

H. K. Parsons, E. M. HALVORSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

